BRIDGWATER MAN MATTHEW PALMER SENTENCED FOR SHOCKING WYE MOUTH BED AND BREAKFAST ABUSE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Matthew Palmer, a 40-year-old resident of Bridgwater in Somerset, was sentenced to a significant prison term after committing a heinous crime involving an 11-year-old girl in Weymouth. The incident took place at a local bed and breakfast, leaving a trail of distress and concern among residents and authorities alike.

Palmer was convicted at Taunton Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to charges of child rape, abduction, and sexual assault. The court heard how Palmer lured the young girl into a trap that culminated in a brutal assault, which he then attempted to conceal by abandoning her at the Charlotte Guest House located on Commercial Road in Weymouth. The attack occurred in August of the previous year, and Palmer’s actions prompted a swift police investigation.

According to court reports, Palmer arrived at the guesthouse early in the morning, around 8 am, and requested a room claiming he was traveling with his daughter. Martin and Rattana Groves, the husband and wife who manage the establishment, recounted how Palmer’s behavior initially appeared unremarkable. They noted that there was no immediate suspicion when he checked in and asked for accommodation for himself and a young girl.

However, the situation raised concern when Palmer left the guesthouse at some point during the morning, leaving the girl alone in the room. Mr. Groves, who was preparing to leave the premises, observed Palmer exit the building around 11 am, alone. He assumed Palmer was heading out to do some shopping and would return shortly. Yet, as the day progressed, Mr. Groves grew increasingly uneasy when he learned from his wife that Palmer had not returned, and the girl remained unaccompanied.

It was later revealed that police in Bridgwater had already located Palmer at his family home, leading to his arrest. When police arrived at his residence, Palmer broke down during questioning. Despite their efforts, he was unable to provide any details about where he had left the girl, only describing the location vaguely. Fortunately, police were able to identify the premises based on Palmer’s description and successfully rescued the young victim.

Mrs. Groves described the tense moment when police arrived: “Just as I was going to check on the girl, I heard someone banging on the door and found what seemed like half of Weymouth police force outside. They asked if there was a girl and a man here and if I could show them to the room where they were staying. When they found the girl, she was taken by the police and the room was turned upside down. They stripped all the beds, took all the towels, and began examining it. At this point, I put two and two together.”

She further described the girl as a small, slender child wearing a pink outfit with a cartoon on her T-shirt, emphasizing her innocence and age. Mrs. Groves stated, “She wasn’t a girl who looked older than her age. She was skinny and very small, and she seemed like a happy, normal kid.”

Palmer was sentenced to 18 years in prison but is expected to serve only 10 years before being released under supervision. The court also ordered that he remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. If he commits another offense upon release, he could face serving the full sentence. The judge, Graham Hume Jones, described Palmer as a “substantial risk to the public,” underscoring the severity of his crimes.

Mr. Groves expressed his outrage, saying, “The girl seemed perfectly happy, but he had clearly fostered the whole thing. I suppose if a man and a young girl come in now, I will always have this at the back of my mind, but you can’t think like that about everyone. If it had been me doing the sentencing, he would never come out of prison. They should have locked him up and thrown away the key.”

In mitigation, Geoffrey Mercer highlighted Palmer’s limited intellectual ability and noted that it took “considerable courage” for him to admit his crimes, adding a layer of complexity to the case. Nonetheless, the community remains deeply concerned about the safety of children and the importance of vigilant oversight in such cases.